Abstract: A rear vehicle seat airbag module configured to be mounted to a portion of a seat back of a front vehicle seat comprising an inflator and an inflatable cushion comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and an external tether connecting the lower portion and the upper portion. The inflator provides inflation gas to the inflatable cushion and the inflatable cushion is configured to deploy forward of an occupant seated in a rear seat of a vehicle by curving away from the occupant. The external tether is configured to control a trajectory of the deployment of the inflatable cushion by pulling the upper portion toward the lower portion to curve the inflatable cushion such that the upper portion is located above the lower portion.

Abstract: A rear vehicle seat airbag module configured to be mounted to a portion of a seat back of a front vehicle seat comprising an inflator and an inflatable cushion comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and an external tether connecting the lower portion and the upper portion. The inflator provides inflation gas to the inflatable cushion and the inflatable cushion is configured to deploy forward of an occupant seated in a rear seat of a vehicle by curving away from the occupant. The external tether is configured to control a trajectory of the deployment of the inflatable cushion by pulling the upper portion toward the lower portion to curve the inflatable cushion such that the upper portion is located above the lower portion.

Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag with a vent hole formed therein, an actuator operatively coupled to the airbag, and a vent hole cover operatively coupled to the airbag so as to cover the vent hole and so as to form an enclosure extending between the actuator and the vent hole.

Abstract: An active leg engagement system for a vehicle includes a selectively deployable leg-engaging member.

Abstract: An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. The divider includes at least one divider opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider and has a first cover structured to restrict gas flow from the second chamber into the divider opening. The first cover has an opening. A second cover is attached to the first cover and is structured to restrict gas flow through the first cover opening in a direction from the first chamber toward the second chamber.

Abstract: An active leg engagement system for a vehicle includes a selectively deployable leg-engaging member.

Abstract: An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. The divider includes at least one divider opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider and has a first cover structured to restrict gas flow from the second chamber into the divider opening. The first cover has an opening. A second cover is attached to the first cover and is structured to restrict gas flow through the first cover opening in a direction from the first chamber toward the second chamber.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.

Abstract: An airbag module integrates the components required for gas generation, thereby eliminating the need for a separate inflation component. The airbag module can comprise a cover with a pocket, a gas generant container, an inflatable cushion an upper and lower retainer housing, and an inflation gas generation system in fluid communication with the cushion. The airbag module does not comprise a discrete inflator that is functional outside the assembled airbag module. The gas generant container houses a package of solid gas generating compound. The energetic materials of the propellant do not become functional as a gas generation source until the cover is secured to the lower retainer housing.

Abstract: An airbag module includes an airbag, an inflator for inflating the airbag, a mounting plate, and a non-rigid tension element. The tension element comprises at least one fabric layer. The tension element is attached to the mounting plate to restrict lateral movement of the airbag during deployment. The airbag module may also include a fabric casing with a bowl section and a draw section. The fabric casing includes a casing opening and a tether drawstring. The tension element may be attached to the fabric casing.

Abstract: An airbag module includes a housing having at least one aperture for releasing gas from an interior of the housing during inflation of an airbag. The airbag module also includes a member configured for movement between a first position in which the member impedes the flow of gas through the at least one aperture and a second position in which the member does not impede the flow of gas through the at least one aperture. A pyrotechnic device is attached to the member for directing a burst of gas toward a fixed surface to cause the member and the pyrotechnic device to move between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An airbag module includes a housing having at least one aperture for releasing gas from an interior of the housing during inflation of an airbag. The airbag module also includes a member configured for movement between a first position in which the member impedes the flow of gas through the at least one aperture and a second position in which the member does not impede the flow of gas through the at least one aperture. A pyrotechnic device is attached to the member for directing a burst of gas toward a fixed surface to cause the member and the pyrotechnic device to move between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A seatbelt energy management device which includes a resistance mechanism coupled to a seatbelt apparatus having a magnetorheological fluid, a permanent magnet having a first magnetic field which orients the magnetorheological fluid to increase the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity, an electromagnet which generates a second magnetic field to cancel the first magnetic field of the permanent magnet to decrease the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity, where the resistance mechanism is controlled by the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity.

Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle incorporating simplified assembly features. The airbag module assembly includes a retainer bracket element having a series of protruding tabs. These tabs are passed through slits of the airbag material and also engage slots in the module housing. The components are oriented and dimensioned such that the retainer bracket elastically deforms during assembly and allows the tabs to engage the housing slots by snapping into position.

Abstract: A side impact head restraint with inflatable deployment in which an inflatable member having a movable mounting point is used to deploy a fabric panel during a side impact collision for head protection. The inflatable member, made of coated fabric, is pressurized by a gas generator. The inflatable member is connected to fabric panel and is used to bring a fabric panel into position in the window area of a side door of the vehicle. The fabric panel is secured at three points, two fixed points located on the upper side rail and a third movable point on a track located on the "B" pillar. The inflatable member pushes the movable mounting point down the track from a position near the upper side rail down to a position immediately below the centerline of the side glass. The movable point locks into position at the end of the travel, when fully deployed. The fabric panel can then be loaded by the head wherein fabric elongation absorbs head impact energy.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint housing for enclosing an air cushion assembly and securing the assembly within a vehicle is provided. The one-piece housing is formed of thermoplastic material and includes an inboard and outboard half hingedly secured together and enclosing the air cushion assembly in a tapered interior chamber. The housing is generally cylindrical having an inboard and outboard directing ramp formed on the respective inner surfaces of each half to define a tapering elliptical cross-section which focuses the energy generated by the inflation of the air cushion allowing the air cushion to rapidly emerge from the housing. The tapered interior chamber of housing also directs the air cushion into the desired position within the vehicle interior during deployment.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module especially adapted for seat mounted side impact protection. The restraint module incorporates a retainer bracket with projecting deformable tab fingers which are loaded inside the bag through an access slit. Slots on opposite sides of the access slit are overlapped and placed such that the retainer bracket tab fingers extend through them. A sheet metal mounting bracket is then installed over the air bag. A cylindrical inflator is installed through holes formed in the mounting bracket and air bag into the interior cavity of the retainer bracket. This sub-assembly can be mounted into a plastic housing having slots which permit the tab fingers to extend to the exterior of the housing where they can be deformed to interlock the components in an assembled condition.

Abstract: A system for venting excessively high pressure gas incident to deployment of an airbag comprising a diaphragm that is rupturable upon the occurrence of a threshold pressure internally of the airbag to instantaneously release said pressure.